Exploring Mixed Boundary Layer Heights: The Impact of Latent, Sensible and Ground Heat Fluxes Through the Bowen Ratio Method

The boundary layer height is a crucial component for understanding atmospheric dynamics that influence weather patterns and air quality. The vertical profile of the potential temperature shows the height of the boundary layer through a sharp potential temperature increase at a given altitude. The more mixed the boundary layer, the closer to constant the measured potential temperature will be. In order to calculate the fluxes within the boundary layer, surface measurements will be taken, and the Bowen ratio method will be used to calculate the latent and sensible heat fluxes. The Bowen ratio method directly utilizes measurements of net radiation and ground heat fluxes to determine the sensible and latent heat fluxes at a given time without needing to incorporate further stability corrections. Everyday moisture and heat fluxes interact with boundary layer processes thus making it important to understand any correlations between the mixing within the boundary layer and the intensity of the fluxes. For that reason, this work aims to address the direct correlation between the mixed layer height and the various fluxes by examining how the latent, sensible, and ground heat fluxes correspond to observed mixing within the boundary layer. This will provide a better understanding of the interactions between heat and moisture fluxes and how they correlate to the mixed boundary layer. Through understanding this relationship, it will allow us to improve our weather and air quality forecasting abilities.